Locomotive pilot and coupler therefor



es. 4-, 11951 WQLFE LOCOMOTIVE PILOT AND COUPLER THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 R We HF L 0 W HH v H.,

LOCOMOTIVE PILOT AND COUPLER THEREFOR 7 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 v 5Sheets-Sheet 2 [l I I? U h 04 l l N 4 I: (.9 I H LL. l 2 I 5 [I l r l cuIi l l INVENTOR.

. H. H. WOLFE,

iBY

Dec. 4, i953 H H. WOLFE 2,577,495

LOCOMOTIVE PILOT AND COUPLER THEREEOR Filed 0012. 16, 1947 5ShGGtS-ShGGt 5 JNVENTOR. H. H. WGLFE,

Dec. 4, 1951 H. H. WOLFE 2,577,495

LOCOMOTIVE PILQT AND COUPLER THEREFOR Filed Oct- 16, 1947 5 ShGSCS-ShGGt4 Cenrer of pin 7 and Tuning axis of door 8.

JNVENTOR. H. H. OLFE, BY I Dec; 4, E951 H. H. WOLFE 2,577,495

LOCOMOTIVE PILOT AND COUPLER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 16, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet5 INVENTOR.- H. WLFE,

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED LOCOMOTIVE PILOT AND-COUPLER rmmnron g,

. Harry H. Wolfe, Columbus,' hio,- assignor to The Buckeye, Steel CastinOhio gs Company, Columbus,

Application October s, 1947:, Serial o. 6 0,227

This invention relates to locomotive pilots and couplers, and moreparticularly to a novel pilot, retractable coupler and pilot doors.

There are quite a number'of locomotives which have cast steel pilots atthe front end into which horizontally retracting couplers are fitted. Ingeneral, such structures include a pilot door with a pocket integralwith the pilot and into which the coupler is fitted. The door andcoupler pivot about the same vertical axis. In such a structure, thedoor projects beyond the face of the pilot on the left/side and there isa large opening in the pilot at the right side of the coupler. When anopposing coupler mismates (does'not couple on impact) with theretractable coupler, such opposin coupler may slip by on the knuckleside of the retractable coupler and hit the forwardly extending pilotdoor, resulting in damage thereto which may render the structure inoperative. The primary object of the present invention is to eliminate thisdisadvantage in the prior'device and to provide an arrangement in whichthe pilot doors provide a smooth pilot frontwith the coupler'retractedand which close the openings, except for that required for couplermovement, when the coupler is in anoperatingposir tion.

Another'object is to provide a structure of this character in which thecoupler is the only projecting element when the coupler is in theoperating position.

I Other objects and features of the invention pertain to theorganization and the structural elements as hereinafter described indetail, and further objects and features of the invention will be moreapparent as the present disclosure proceeds, and upon consideration ofthe accompanying drawings wherein a typical embodiment of the inventionis'illustrated. i In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my construction, partially in transversehorizontal section, taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2, and with thecoupler in an operating position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view with the coupler retracted.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view with the parts positioned as indicatedin Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional-view on the line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the main pilot door.

.Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on the line 6-6of Fig. 5, and illustrating the door latch.

11Claims. (01113- 2 Fig. 7 is'aview similar to Fig. 6 but taken on theline 7-1'of Fig. 5, andjs'howing a sliding abutment which cooperateswith the latch to limit swivelling' of the coupler when the-latter is inoperating position.

Fig. 8'is a rear elevation of the pilot door.

Fig. 9 is ahorizontal sectional view of a detail taken on the line 99 ofFig. 7, and show ing the relation" of the sliding abutment to the latchpin;

Fig.10 isa top plan view of the main door retainer and coupler carrier.

Fig. 11 is a iront elevationof the same.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the linel2 *l2ofFig.1l.

Fig. 13 .is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of aportion of the door structure and a bufling surface on the pilotstructure. Referring to the'drawings, I designates a cast steelpilotwhich may be bolted to, or cast integral with, a conventional pilot beam2. The coupler, indicated generally by the reference character 3, has ashankl provided with: upwardly and downwardly extended cylindricalbosses 5-which fit between co-axial bosses 6 of the pilot I. The bosses6' extend, respectively, upwardly and'downwardly from the floor 6a androof tab of the pilot structure. A pocket I4 is provided within thepilotstructure; I

A vertical pivotpin 1 extends through the bosses of the pilot andcoupler and connects'the coupler to the pilot.

A main pilot doors is provided at its rear-side with a'parti-cylindrical channel 9, the axis oi.

which is concentric'jwiththe axis of the pin "1 and such channelreceives the parti-cylindrical inner end of the-shank of the coupler,which'inner end includes the bosses 5, whereby bufiing forcesapplied'to' the coupler willbe transmitted directly to the" door whenthe coupler is in the operating position."

A door retainer I0, designed to pivotallyconnect the lower boss 5 of thecoupler with the pilot door, issecured to the door by any suitablemeans, such as bolts II, and it will be noted the retainer lies underthe coupler and has an extension or'shelf 12' on which the coupler shankslides when swivlling. The extension [2, in turn,

rests on a boss I3 integral with the floor tof arcuate facefl 6. Thelatter is'symmetric'alabout laterally displaced with respecti to theaxis-of said pivot pin whereby the end face of'the projection is wedgedinto engagement with said-buffing surface as the coupler is turned toan" operative position; 'I

3. In a coupler and pilot organization for a locomotive, a couplerincluding a shank, a pilot, vertically aligned bosses on th pilot, averticale ly disposed pivot pin extending through the coupler shank intosaid bosses so that-the coupler may be turned about the axis of the pin,a 'door structure abutting a rear end of the coupler shank mounted'toturn about-' 'the axis fof said pin with the coupler,a-projectiorfcarried bythe door structure arranged generallydiametrically opposite the coupler shank, an arcuate end face on theprojection generated-about a vertical axis laterally displacedywithrespect to the center of said pivot pin, an arcuate; bufling surfacecarried by the pilot struck about a vertical axis laterally displacedwith respect to the center of the pivot pin whereby the end faceof theprojection is wedged into engagement with-said bufiing surface when thecoupler is turned to anoperative position to-relieve the pivot pin ofbufling forces inthe application of pushing strains on the coupler, aguard arm on said coupler, and said bufling surface having a recesstherein for receiving a portion of the guard arm when the coupler is inthe retracted position.

4. In a pilot and coupler assembly, a pilot, vertically aligned bearingscarried by the pilot, a coupler, a shank extending from the coupler,generally cylindrical shaped coaxial bosses at the rear end of the shankhaving an opening therethrough, a pivot pin extending through theopening in the coupler shank and into said bearings, a door structurehaving a vertically disposed channel therein arranged partly around andengaging the rear end of the coupler, a, retaining member having aconcave portion spanning one of the bosses on the rear end of thecoupler shank, and means detachably securing the retaining member tosaid door structure.

5. In a pilot and coupler assembly, a pilot, vertically aligned bearingscarried by the pilot, a coupler, a shank extending from the coupler,generally cylindrical shaped coaxial bosses at the rear end of the shankhaving an opening therethrough, a pivot pin extending through theopening in the coupler shank and into said bearings, a door structurhaving a vertically disposed channel therein arranged partly around andengaging the rear end of the coupler, a retaining member having aconcave portion spanning one of the bosses on the rear end of thecoupler shank, means detachably securing the retaining member to saiddoor structure whereby the door structure and the retaining member mayturn as a unit about the axis of said pivot pin, and a shelf on theretaining member supporting the coupler shank and movable with the doorstructure and the coupler.

' 6. In a coupler and pilot assembly for a locomotive, a pilot having apocket therein, an inclined front face on the pilot sloping rearwardlyin proceeding upwardly, a coupler including a shank connected to thepilot within the pocket for swinging movement about a vertical axis, adoor structure secured to the coupler shank swingable about saidvertical axis with the coupler so that the coupler may be retracted intothe pocket and the door arranged forwardly of the coupler andsubstantially flush with respect to the inclined front face of thepilot, a projection carried by thedoor structure extending cute;

wardly therefr'om and arranged in substantially horizontal alignmentwith the coupler, and a substantially vertical end face on theprojection adapted for engaging the coupler of another rall-.

way vehicle. v v 7. In a coupler and pilot assembly, a pilot having apocket therein, an inclined faceon" said pilot, a coupler including ashank connected to the pilot'for swinging movement about a verticalaxis,a' door structure secured-to the coupler shank swingable with thecoupler so that the door may be arranged forwardly of the coupler whenthe coupler isvretracted into said pocket, means on the door structureproviding aninclined surface flush with the inclined face of the pilot:when' the coupler is in: the retracted position, a projection carriedby the door structure extending outward ly from the inclinedsurfacethereof and arranged in substantially horizontal alignment withthe coupler, and a generally vertical end face on the projection insubstantially horizontal alignment with couplers of other railwayvehicles.

8. In a coupler and pilot assembly, a coupler having a shank, a pilot,means includinga verticallydisposed pivot pin connecting'the couplershank to the pilot so that the coupler may be turned in a horizontalplane, a fixed arcuate buffing surface carried by the pilot struck abouta vertical axis displaced with respect to the axis of the pivot pin,means in abutting relationship and swingable with the coupler, aprojection carried by said swingable means arranged on a side of thepivot pin opposite the coupler, an arcuate end face on the projectiongenerated about a. vertical axis laterally displaced with respect to theaxis of said pivot pin whereby the end face of the projection is wedgedinto engagement with said bumng surface as the coupler is turned to anoperative position, a vertically movable latch pin carried by saidswingable means, and said pilot having a recess therein for receiving anend portion of the latch pin when the end surface of the projectionfirmly engages said bufiing surface.

9. In a coupler and pilot assembly, a coupler having a shank, a pilot,means including a vertically disposed pivot pin connecting the couplershank to the pilot so that the coupler may be turned in a horizontalplane, a fixed arcuate buffing surface carried by the pilot struck abouta vertical axis displaced with respect to the axis of the pivot pin,means in abutting relationship and swingable with the coupler, aprojection carried by said swingable means arranged on a side of thepivot pin opposite the coupler, an arcuate end face on the projectiongenerated about a vertical axis laterally displaced with respect to theaxis of said pivot pin whereby the end face of the projection is wedgedinto engagement with said buifing surface as the coupler is turned to anoperative position, a vertically movable latch pin carried by saidswingable means, said pilot having a recess therein for receiving anendportion of the latch pin when the end surface on the projection firmlyengages said bufiing surface, a block mounted for vertical movement onthe swingable means adjacent said latch pin and forming an abutment forthe coupler shank in its lower position, and a lug carried by the latchpin for engaging and lifting said block.

10. In a coupler and pilot organization for a locomotive, a couplerincluding a shank, a pilot structure, means including a verticallydisposed pivot ,zpfll connectix'ig the "coupler shank to the pflotstructure so *thatithe-coupler may turn about theexis of =saidpivot pinand in a generalbr horizontalplane, a door structure abutting :a rearend of the coupler shankand mounted to turn about the axis of said pivotpin with the coupler, a projection carried by the door structurearranged substantially diametrically opposite the coupler shank. aconvex "end 'face on said projection struck about a vertical axis offsetfrom the center or said :pivot .pin to one side -of a longitudinalcenter of the pilot structure, arranged transversely of the longitudinalcenter of the :pilot structure whereby the convex end face on saidprojection urged into firm contact with said boning-"surface when thecoupler is turned to an operative position to relieve the pivot pm ofboiling forces applied to the coupler.

11. In a coupler and pilot organization for a locomotive, a couplerincluding a 'sh'ank, "a pilot structure, means including a verticallydisposed pivot pin connecting the coupler shank to the pilot structureso that the coupler may turn-about the axis of said pivot pin, a doorstructure abutting a rear end of the coupler shank and mounted to turnabout the axis of said pivot .pin with the coupler, a projection carriedby the door :struc' ture arranged substantiallydiametrically oppositethe coupler shank, an end face on said projection convex :inhor-izontalsection, a concave fixed bufling surface carried by the pilot structuregenerated about a. vertical axis offset from th conter'of said pivot pinto one side of a longitudinal center of the pilot structure whereby theend face on saidprojection is urged into positive engagement with saidbufling surface when the coupler and the door structure turn about theaxis of said pivot .pin to an operative position of the coupler tothereby relieve the pivot pin of bufling forces applied to the coupler.

HARRY H. WOLFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 'Name Date 2,132,823 Hoke Oct. 11, 19382,200,219 Reid May 7, 1940 2,400,584 Wolfe May -21, 1946 2,439,762I-ravil-la, Jr. et al. Apr. 13, 1948

